Drilling equipment



Aug. 9, 1932. w. D. GRANT 1,870,725

DRILLING EQUIPMENT Filed March 5l, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet l W. D. GRANT Aug. 9, 1932.

DRILLING EQUIPMENT Filed March 3l, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I? T'TRA/fy Aug. 9, 1932. wpD. GRANT DRILLING EQUIPMENT `Filed March 31, 1931 4 sheetssheet 3 17. Gran?.

All@ 9, 1932- w. D. GRANT 1,870,725

DRILLING EQUIPMENT Filed MaICh 51. 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 i -13.. Diqi- E (15 R415 Fd Patented Aug. 9, 1932 rrr. sTAr-Es wILLrAi'r n'eRANr, or VANCOUVER, Bairrsn corU-MBA, CANADA DRn-LING neutri/initie Application ledrrarch 31, 1921. 'serial N6. $26,689.

experiencesin which many types of vdrilling equipment have been tested and discarded for lailure to meet the exacting conditions to be found in subaqueous drilling.

T his experience naturally led 'to the developrnent el' special equipment, some of which l have been granted patents for and some being the subject matter of pending patent applications, and all the apparatus so far developed has had .to stand the acid testvo practical application to the work in hand.

The statement above is .made with the obl ject of showing that the present invention is 2o not theoretical but a practical one tested in the. field of experience.

in object of the present invention has been to develop apparatus giving a greater degree of control and rigidity over the submerged f V drilling equipment.

Another object has been ,to develop stiller and more rigid overhead equipment, as owing .to the great height required in the leads for carrying out subaqueous drilling,

the usual timber framework has been found too resilient l'or this work.

Still another object of the present invention has been to develop apparatus that will malte possible the more accurate spotting of the casing and drill point below the over burden.

A still further object has been to provide a two-point suspension or support to the telescopic drill casing submerged below the surface whereby the casing is relieved to a. great extent of' bending strains. Y

Anotherobject has been to improve upon all known drilling equipment whereby all operations are carried on with greater facility on account of the more convenient arrangement of parts and greater accessibility afforded the workmen in carrying out their duties.

All parts of the herein describedl invention are unitary to each other to comprise an elii'- cient and etiective drilling equipment suitable forV subaquatic drilling, and no part ycanebe dispensed with withoutl rendering the remaining equipment less eiicient. l

A statementV of the mode and'sequence of operation in subaqueous vdrilling .is `deemed advisable so that .this invention may be thoroughly understood. l

In entering upon a subaquatic drilling job it is no unusual requirement for the drilling contractorto` be called upon to deepen a channel or to remove an obstruction to a `given survey line and this calls for'accuraey in spotting the drill hole below'water unless the'contractor is prepared to remove alot of material he will not get paid for. and even this expedient is not always permissible.

A very accurate survey of the bottom' is therefore essential to successful operations', lirst, to learn the depth of water in which operations have tov be carried on; next, toI learn the depth of overburden,v theformation of the rock bottom, the lay of the ro'clh-the contour of the rock in relation to the water surface, so that the depth of drilled: holes may f.

be calculated for the proper estimating of y cost of drilling operations and measurement of material to be removed.

Given this information the contractor then prepares all his equipment to ksuit the particular job in hand, all drills toV proper length for the deepest of holes, and these may vary from twenty toV eighty feet in one length according to the'- depth of water in which operations are being carriedout, -and depth of Vhole to'be drilled. All drill bits and drill Vrods used are tubular.

: Next in' order is the teles'cc'ipicy casing in which the actual drilling is carriedfon; 'this has to be ncalculated for length and run and slide to take care of rise andall' of tides' if operations are in tidal waters and prepared accordingly.' Y Y All overhead hoisting cablesV areprovided to length for the handlingof equipmenhal'l ground tackle estimated'ior length and run to permit of the quick run-back-o the drillvkingbarge when blasting holes and thus every bit of equipment is adapted `toits particular need and job.

If an under-water obstruction has to be removed to a given survey line, thensighting l buoys or stations are erected, ground tackle placed accordingly and the drill barge brought in line with the drill head and drill on the sight line. The casing secured to the Spud member is then lowered and forced through the over-burden by means of the Spud en ine; at the same time a drill is lowered witin the casing and jetting operations commence by forcing a powerful streamof water through the drill rod whichv soon removes the over-burden and causes the casing to settle until it strikes bedrock. The` bottom length of the telescopic casing is fitted with a heavy manganese shoe. Y

Y The jetting operations are continued until the casing strikes bedrock when drillingoperations are commenced'and the casing usually follows the drill down from siX inches to two feet into the hole before becoming properly bedded and this, together with the cuttings on the outside of the casing, forms a perfect seat sufficient to maintain the high .hydraulic pressures required within the casingV to removethe drilling detritus.

i It is to be noted that when jetting the casf ing down through the over-burden a considerableiportion of the line material settles back around thecasing and helpsY to maintain a tight joint at bedrock. v

spud member.

Withthecasing accurately positioned the usual reciprocating drilling operations are carried on to depth, all detritus being hy'- draulically removed meanwhile from the drilled hole and through the casing.

After drilling operations are completed, the drill rod is removed by hoisting the drill head, charge lowered ready for firing, forward ground tackle slackened off, rear lines reeledand barge pulled clear to fire and then contact. f i f Y Immediately afterwards rear lines are slackened, forward lines reeled in and the barge` positioned for the next hole by proper adjustment'of theground lines and operation continued. l

Mobility and control are essential in such work as often there are disturbed surface Aconditions owingV to passing vessels, also change of tides to be'counteracted and quick removal of equipment for blasting operations provided for; butwith theforegoing recital o f the sequence of operations. it is hoped to make clear a proper understanding of the various parts and functions of the present invention, which willbe better. understood by reference to the drawings accompanying 'and forming part'of this application, in

which: l

. Figure 1 is a front elevation of the barge with my invention applied.

Figure 2 is an elevation of a portion of the igure 2l1 is a cross section ofthe same.v

Figure 3 is another elevation of the spud member taken at right angles to Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Figure 1 and also showing the suspended loading member which, however,

forms no part of this invention.

Figure 5 is a cross section on the line 5 5 ofFigure 4.

Figure 6 is a sectional elevation of the lower end of the casing member showing the Figure 7 is a cross section of the foot clamp which' is positioned at the lower end of the spud member. Figure 8 is a cross section showing the hinged clamp member positioned upon the bow of the 'barge to secure the casing meinber. 1

Figur-e 9 vis a part cross section of the leads and drilling member and a plan of the workers platform and carriage member positioned 'upon the side of one of the leads.

Figure 10 is a detail side elevation of the carriage member.

Figure 11 is a detail view of the hinged support on the carriage member of the platorm. 1

Figs. 12, 13 and 14, are diagrammatic views showing the cables controlling the raising and lowering of the spud member, the drill-vr ing member and the platform, respectively. In these drawings like numerals indicate like parts and the numeral 10 indicates a floating barge upon which is mounted a pair l of metallic leads 11 supported by the trussed guy members 12. At the top of the leads 11 there is positioned a number of sheave blocks 13 to carry cables from the winding engines positioned at the after end of the barge-to support and handle the various pieces of leads, as shown in Figures 5 and 9. The A drilling member is supported by a suitable bale 14?/ secured to one of the cables 14m passing over the sheave blocks 13, and run up and down in the slideway 15 as required. The member 14 may be counterweighted as at 14a, a cable'14e connecting the counterweight and the member'14 and passing over one of thesheave blocks 13.

' The leads 11 are suitably trussed and braced by the trussbars 17 shown in Figure 4, being applied to the sides of the channel members 18 comprising theleads which are further strengthened and-held apart by the bentk T irons 19 as shown in Figures 1, 4, 5 and 9. `A fabricated metallic spud member 90 slidable between the leads 11 is shown in position in Figures 1 and 4 extending below the bottom of the barge and is suspended by a cable w passing through `the sheave blocks 21 positioned on the end of the spud and over the sheaveblocks 13 at the head of the leads. c At the bottom of the spud member 20 is positioned a foot clamp 22, a cross section of which is shown in Figure 7, and this foot clamp is for theV purpose `of receiving and holding in position a section of the casing 23.

This casing is telescopic as shown in'Figures l and fl and indicated at 24, and the top length of the casing is secured in the hinged clamp member 25 secured upon the bow of Y the barge l0 and across the well 26 formed in the bow of the barge, as shown in Figures l and. 8. J

The casing 23 secured in this manner is relieved of all bending strains and is held in more rigid alignment for the operation of the drilling tools therein. Moreover, the weight of the spud member upon the lower length ofV the casing helps to retain the casing in its original position while the barge 10 is free to rise and fall with the tide without disturbing the casing setting. A heavy manganese shoe 27 is fitted to the bottom length of the casing member 23 and this is shown in Figure G.

The hinged clamp member 25 is made removable by withdrawing drift pins fitting the apertures 28 which secure the clamp member to the side brackets 29 bolted directly to the bow of the barge 10. The vfront half of the clamp is hingable upon the pin 30, as shown in Figure 8, which also shows the apertures 28 and the side brackets 29, and the free end is secured by a threaded bolt and a wing clamp nut 3l.

Positioned to the side of one of the leads 1l and running its WholeV length is an H beam 32 forming a slideway 33 for a vertical traversing carriage 34 shown in Figures 9, 10 and l1. The carriage 34 is secured to the H beam by the rollers 35 carried upon the pins 36 secured in the framework of the carriage.

che carriage 3a has a hinge 37 formed on its outer face carrying the platform 38 which is suitably braced by the rib 39.

rEhe platform 38 is contoured to lie around in front of the leads 11 and drilling member la; when work is to be performed thereon and adapted to be swung clear and to the side when not required for use. Y

T his traversing and elevating platform is a great time and labour saver as it obviates the workmen running up and down the ladders found in the old style working derricks,

as all that is required now is that the carriage be lowered to the deck of the barge when a workman steps aboard and is hoisted immediately to the position required for attention.

The carriage has its own independent hoisting cable 34x secured to it and passing over one of the sheaves 13 at the head of the leads l1. Suitable securing means is provided forl securing the end of theplatform to the opposite lead when work is being carried on from the platform and to prevent it swinging when the workmen are straining upon Figure 8 is a partial plan view of the forward deck of the ldrilling barge and shows the drilling well built into the bow of the barge which is indicated at 26 while the numeral 40 indicates the barge deck. For purpose of clarity the position of the leads l1 is omitted. Y

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to be protected in by Letters Patent, is:

l. In a subaqua-tic drilling equipment comprising a barge and operating cables thereon in combination with a pair of vertical leads mounted upon said barge, means holding said leads in spacedv apart relation, guy members supporting said leads, a slideway formed upon one face of said leads, a drilling member. mounted on said slideway,vand means to support said drilling member, a spud member slidable between said leads, a foot clamp {itting said spud member, said foot clamp being positioned upon the lower end of said spud member and beneath the bottom of said barge.

2. lnA a subaquatic drilling equipment comprisinga barge and cables thereon in combination with a pair of vertical leads and sheave blocks mounted upon said barge, said leads held inspaced apart relation by suitable members, guy members supporting said leads, a. slideway formed upon one of said leads, a roller carriage member slidable upon said slideway, said carriage member supporting a hinged platform member, said platform member being contoured to lie around and in front of said leads in one position and adapted to be` swung to one side of saidleads in another position, said carriage member and said platform member being supported in its slideway by cables, said cables passing over one of said'sheave blocks to said winding engines.

3. In subaquatic drilling equipment, a barge, a pair of vertical leads spaced apart and mounted on said barge adjacent its bow, said barge having a wellya spud member vertically slidably mounted on and between said leads to rise and fall through said well, cables and sheaves for raising and lowering said spud member, means rigidly bracing said leads and holding them in spacedk relation, a hinged clamp on the bow of said barge bridging the front of said well, afoot clamp on said spud member, and a telescopic casing one section of which is held by said hinged clamp Vand the other by said foot clamp, said casing lying in front of ysaid barge, and a drilling member vertically slidably mounted on the fronty of said leads above and in cooperative alignment with said casing, and

means to raise and lower said drilling member. a v 'Y 4. InV subaquatic d-rilling equipment, a barge, vertical leads rigidly mounted and braced on said barge, a drilling member mounted on the front -of said leads to be moved up and down the same, an H-beam mounted on the side of one lead, a platform carriage mounted on said t'l-beam, a platform carried by said carriage, sheaves mounted on said leads, and operating cables passing over said sheaves and secured to said drilling` member and saidcarriage for raising and lowering the same.

5. In subaquatic drilling equipment, aV

barge, vertical leads rigidly mounted and braced on saidrbarge, a drillingl member mounted on the front of said leads to be moved up and down the same, an H-beam mounted on the side of one lead, a platform carriage mounted on said H-beam, a platform carried by said carriage, sheaves mounted on said leads, and operating cables passing over said sheaves and secured to said drilling member and said carriage for raising and lowering the same, said platform comprising a body including a portion projected around Y in front of said drilling member and spaced from the leads suiiiciently to permit the drill- Y ing member and platform to pass one another.

6. In subaquatic drilling equipment, a barge, a pair of fabricated leads mounted vertically on the barge and spaced apart, U- shaped brace irons embracing said leads at vertical intervals, guying means for said leads, laterally projecting vertical slideways on said leads, and a drilling member having portions embracing said projecting slideways and mounted thereon tothe front of said A leads, sheaves on said leads, and an operating cured to said drilling member.

on said leads, and a drilling member having 3portions embracing said projecting slideways .with respect to said drilling member. Y

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WILLIAM D. GRANT.

7. In subaqiiatic drilling equipment, a

barge, a pair of fabricated leads mounted vertically on the barge and spaced apart, U- shaped brace irons embracingr said leads at vertical intervals, guying means for said leads, laterally project-ing vertical slideways on said leads, anda drilling member having y,

portions embracing said projecting slideways and mounted thereon to the front of said leads, sheaves on said leads, and an operating cable passed over one of said sheaves and secured to said drilling member, a spud telescopieally mounted in the space between said leads, and an operating cable passed over another of said sheaves and sustaining said spud.

8. In subaquatic drilling equipment, a barge, a pair of fabricated leads mounted vertically on the barge and spaced apart, U-shapedr brace irons embracing said leads at vertical intervals, guying means for said leads, laterally projecting vertical slideways 

